New Short-Term Rental Regulations in Poland 2026: What Changes?

New Short-Term Rental Regulations in 2026

Short-term rental in Poland is facing the biggest regulatory change in years. EU Regulation 2024/1028 of the European Parliament and of the Council applies from 20 May 2026. At the same time, Poland is still working on the implementing law (draft UC135), which will set the national details: the CWTON system, penalty amounts and transitional deadlines. If you operate a short-term rental, this article is required reading - including which claims circulating online are simply not true yet.

Where Did the New Regulations Come From?

Over the past decade, short-term rental in Europe has grown at a breakneck pace. Cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Krakow began feeling the negative effects: rising housing prices, noise, neighbor conflicts, and lack of control over the accommodation market. Each country dealt with it on its own, creating a patchwork of inconsistent regulations.

The European Union decided to bring order. Regulation 2024/1028 was adopted on 11 April 2024 (it entered into force on 20 May 2024) and establishes a unified framework for collecting and exchanging data on short-term rental properties across all member states. Countries have two years to prepare - which is why the regulation applies from 20 May 2026. Important: the regulation mainly concerns the flow of data between platforms and national access points, and by itself does not oblige hosts to hold a number until a national law and register exist.

It's worth noting that the EU regulation is a directly applicable act - it doesn't require full transposition into national law like directives. However, Poland must still pass national implementing legislation, including establishing the CWTON registration system and setting penalty amounts. As of now, that legislation has NOT been passed (draft UC135 is still in the legislative process) and the CWTON IT system has NOT launched - so host registration is currently impossible.

Key Changes - What You Need to Know

1. Planned CWTON Registration

The Central Register of Tourist Accommodation (CWTON) is meant to be Poland's register of short-term rental properties, maintained by the minister responsible for tourism. Under the draft law, every property will eventually need a registration number. Important: as of today the system does not exist and the law has not been passed - so the claim "without a number you can't publish a listing" is false. Platforms have no register to verify against and do not remove Polish listings on this basis.

Registration is meant to be free and done online. The realistic start is planned for around 15 October 2026, and actual host registration may slip into 2027.

2. Platform Obligations

This is one of the biggest planned changes. The EU regulation foresees obligations not just for hosts, but primarily for platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or Noclegi.pl. Once a national register exists, platforms will:

• Collect a registration number when publishing a listing
• Verify the number's accuracy against the CWTON register
• Share reservation data with relevant authorities upon request
• Report the number of overnight stays sold for each property

Platforms are ultimately meant to become enforcement tools. For now, though - as long as there is no national law and no working register - platforms do not verify numbers and do not remove Polish listings. The registration number field remains optional.

3. Planned Municipal Powers (draft)

The draft law foresees that municipalities could in the future regulate short-term rental at the local level. Under the draft, municipalities could:

• Limit the number of rental days per year (e.g., to 90 or 120 days)
• Designate zones where short-term rental would be prohibited or restricted
• Introduce additional requirements regarding safety, quiet hours, or property standards
• Impose local fees related to tourism

To be clear: these are provisions of a DRAFT law, not binding law. Restriction zones would be possible no earlier than 2029, and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism is considering removing zones from the draft entirely. Today no municipality can restrict rental on this basis. It is still worth monitoring the legislative process.

4. Planned Penalty System (draft)

The draft law foresees specific financial penalties (they do not apply until the law is passed):

• Up to 50,000 PLN for operating a rental without CWTON registration
• Up to 10,000 PLN for providing false or inaccurate data in the register
• Listing removal from booking platforms - meaning immediate revenue loss

Penalties apply to both hosts and platforms that fail to comply. Platforms can receive penalties for not fulfilling the registration number verification requirement.

Key Dates - Change Calendar

Remember these dates, because it pays to be prepared in advance:

1. 11 April 2024 - adoption of EU Regulation 2024/1028 (entered into force 20 May 2024)
2. 20 May 2026 - the EU regulation starts to apply. This does NOT mean a number is mandatory in Poland - there is no national law or register
3. Around 15 October 2026 - planned realistic start of preparations/registration (the date may slip; some sources point to 2027)
4. After the law is passed and vacatio legis ends - only then do numbers, penalties and any municipal powers take effect

Personal Data Protection (GDPR)

The new regulations involve processing personal data - both hosts' and guests'. Here's what you need to know about the GDPR aspects:

Host Data

Your data in the CWTON register (name, surname, property address, registration number) is partially public - the registration number is visible in listings. Personal data (PESEL, home address) is protected and accessible only to regulatory bodies.

Guest Data

As a host, you process your guests' personal data (name, surname, ID document, contact details). You must:

• Collect only necessary data (the basis for processing is usually performance of a contract - Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR - not a legal obligation)
• Store it only for as long as needed to deliver and settle the service
• Protect data from third-party access
• Delete data once the purpose of processing ends

Note: in private short-term rental there is NO legal obligation to register guests or keep a "guest logbook" - residence logbooks were abolished around 2013. The residence-registration (meldunek) obligation applies to stays over 3 months and falls on the person registering, not on the host.

Data Sharing With Platforms

Booking platforms will share data about overnight stays sold in your property with authorities. This data may be used to verify tax returns and compliance with any overnight stay limits imposed by the municipality.

Fire Safety - New Requirements

Here is the most important, already-introduced new requirement: from 30 June 2026 smoke detectors are MANDATORY in existing premises providing hotel services (including short-term rental), under the Ministry of Interior regulation of 21 November 2024. In addition, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector is required wherever fuel is burned (gas, fireplace, furnace). What does this mean in practice?

• Smoke detectors - MANDATORY from 30.06.2026, in every sleeping room and hallway
• Fire extinguisher - at least one, working, with current inspection. Ideally an ABC powder extinguisher with minimum 2 kg capacity
• Evacuation instructions - evacuation plan displayed in a visible place, ideally on the inside of the entrance door
• Emergency exit markings - fluorescent signs indicating the direction of the emergency exit
• Fire blanket - recommended in the kitchen
• First aid kit - equipped according to basic standards

A fire safety inspection can be conducted by the fire department at the municipality's request. Failure to meet requirements can result in suspension of the registration number.

Property Insurance - New Realities

While the new regulations don't introduce mandatory liability insurance (OC) for short-term rental, this issue deserves serious attention. Why? Because market formalization means that in case of an accident or damage, you'll be identifiable as a legal service provider, and your liability will be clearly defined.

Standard apartment insurance usually doesn't cover short-term rental activities. It's worth extending your insurance or purchasing a dedicated policy that covers:

• Liability toward guests (e.g., falls, burns, poisoning)
• Guest damage to the property
• Revenue loss if the property is taken out of service (e.g., after flooding)
• Liability for damage caused to neighbors by guests

The cost of such a policy is typically 500-1,500 PLN per year, depending on the property value and coverage scope. It's a small price for peace of mind.

What Does This Mean for Your Wallet?

Many people ask: will the new regulations make short-term rental unprofitable? The answer: no, but you must adapt.

Direct Costs

CWTON registration itself is free. The costs you'll bear include:

• Documentation preparation (rules, instructions) - one-time
• Safety equipment (extinguisher, detectors) - a few hundred PLN
• Any property modifications to meet requirements - depends on the starting condition

Indirect Costs

If the municipality introduces a rental day limit (e.g., 120 days per year), you may lose some revenue. It's worth calculating now how many days per year you rent and checking what plans your municipality has.

Benefits

Market regulation also has clear upsides. Professional hosts who operate legally can benefit from the elimination of illegal competition. An organized market also means greater guest trust and potentially higher prices. Guests increasingly look for properties with an official registration number, treating it as a guarantee of quality and safety. It's a similar mechanism to hotel star ratings - it gives a sense that the property has been verified.

Furthermore, market organization can lead to greater price stability. When properties operating in the gray zone disappear (often competing on low price at the expense of safety and standards), legal hosts will be able to maintain margins at a reasonable level.

How to Prepare - Checklist

Here's what's worth doing today so you're ready when the CWTON system finally launches:

1. Report the property to the municipal register - the only real obligation today (Art. 38-39 of the Hotel Services Act)
2. Install smoke detectors - MANDATORY from 30 June 2026 (Ministry of Interior regulation of 21.11.2024), plus a CO detector where fuel is burned
3. Set up a trusted profile on gov.pl if you don't have one yet - useful for future registration
4. Gather documents - ownership deed or lease with subletting rights, property details
5. Check safety equipment - fire extinguisher, evacuation plan
6. Review GDPR documentation - how you process guest data
7. Prepare house rules for guests (good practice, possible future requirement)
8. Follow the legislative process on the law and any municipal powers
9. Update your insurance policy - make sure it covers short-term rental
10. Crunch the numbers - account for future compliance costs

Common Host Concerns

The new regulations generate many emotions and concerns. Here are answers to the most frequent doubts:

Is rental still profitable? Yes. The regulations don't ban short-term rental - they merely regulate it. If you operate legally, your situation won't worsen, and it may even improve thanks to elimination of illegal competition.

Will the municipality definitely limit rental days? Unknown. The regulation gives municipalities this option but not an obligation. Many smaller municipalities probably won't exercise these powers. Larger tourist cities may introduce restrictions, but usually after public consultations.

Do I need to register a business? No. CWTON registration is independent of legal form. You can rent as a private individual under private rental rules. The taxation form is a separate matter.

Poland Compared to Europe

Poland isn't the first country to regulate short-term rental. It's worth looking at others' experiences:

• France - mandatory registration since 2017, 120-day limit in Paris. The system works and is effectively enforced
• Netherlands - Amsterdam limited rental to 30 nights per year. Platforms actively cooperate with the city
• Spain - Barcelona requires a tourist license. Unregistered properties are closed and owners penalized
• Germany - Berlin has had a registration system since 2014, with periodic tightening

Polish regulation is moderate by European standards. It doesn't introduce a nationwide overnight stay limit (that's a municipal decision) and doesn't require a special license. But the trend is clear: regulations will continue to tighten.

Summary

The new regulations aren't the end of short-term rental in Poland. They're its professionalization. CWTON registration, registration number in listings, meeting safety requirements, proper documentation - this is the standard that already applies in most Western European countries. Now it's Poland's turn.

The key is preparation. Don't wait until the last moment. Report your property to the municipal register, install the smoke detectors that are mandatory from 30 June 2026, gather your documents, and be ready to register with CWTON as soon as the system finally becomes available. Those who prepare early will have peace of mind when the rules take effect.

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